67Ga-scintigraphy for evaluation of AIDS-related intestinal infections.

This study was designed to evaluate the role of 67Ga-scintigraphy in AIDS-related intestinal infections. Seventeen out of twenty-five HIV-positive patients (68%) primarily investigated with 67Ga-scans to screen for opportunistic pneumonia presented pathologic abdominal 67Ga-uptake which was, in most cases, due to proven opportunistic intestinal infection (cytomegalovirus, atypical mycobacteria, cryptosporidiosis etc.). The correlation of abdominal with pulmonary findings has shown that AIDS-related intestinal infections and opportunistic pneumonia may occur concomitantly in the majority cases (11/17). In 6/17 patients positive abdominal findings were observed without opportunistic pneumonia at the same time. Gallium imaging of the abdomen has shown to identify successfully the most common extrapulmonary sites of HIV-related infections. Thus, abdominal imaging or whole body scintigraphy should be a mandatory part of each 67Ga-scan in patients with HIV infection, even if it was primarily performed to screen for opportunistic pneumonia only. Knowledge of multilocular opportunistic infections, usually caused by different pathogens, is clinically important for further diagnostic and therapeutic management.